10 Longest Performances In Royal Rumble Match History

 

With TLC now firmly in the rear-view, WWE’s next major pay-per-view event has started to loom ever closer on the horizon. Lurking like some sort of multi-limbed, oversized Lars Sullivan.

One of WWE’s traditional ‘Big Five’ PPVs, the Royal Rumble is a date highlighted on every wrestling calendar. Although the pay-per-view is generally an entertaining spectacle, the show as a whole is often overshadowed by the Royal Rumble match itself. And with good reason.

The annual 30-man (and since last year, also 30-woman) brawl consistently produces some of the most compelling narratives of the wrestling year. Ranging from who will enter the match first to who will emerge as the winner – thereby kickstarting the Road to WrestleMania – the January showcase is invariably engaging, riveting and unpredictable throughout its one hour plus runtime.

One of the most intriguing questions leading into the Rumble is who might be responsible for this edition’s ironman effort. Each year, almost without fail, one wrestler steps up to produce a super-human feat of courage, endurance and persistence, as they hang around for long phases – often over an hour. And whether they’re destined to claim victory or fall agonizingly short, it’s those humble heroes who are featured in this list. Counting down from ten to one, we immortalize those brave souls who were able to cling to Royal Rumble life the longest, dating back to the inaugural event in 1988.

Before we begin, two special mentions are merited. Firstly, Daniel Bryan’s epic run last year. As this list is confined to the non-greatest Royal Rumble matches (the Royal Rumble Classics, if you will), Bryan’s incredible achievement of lasting 1 hour 16 minutes at the Greatest Royal Rumble would otherwise be omitted. It was by any measure a tremendous feat though, and so deserves be mentioned alongside the names that follow. Secondly, Sasha Banks lasting just shy of 55 minutes during the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble last January, while not quite enough to earn a spot on this list, was still a jaw-dropping achievement.

But with that out the way, let’s get started with the tenth (and ninth) longest appearances in a Royal Rumble match.

• lists
• longest performances
• Royal Rumble
• wwe

Share this article with friends